Aeroplane.



v. H. LATBNDORF.

ABROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5, 1910.

Patented July 30, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 v. H. LATENDORF. I

AEROPLANE. 'AIPLICATION FILED APR.5, 1910.

'Patentd July 30, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Mauve n koz \k k Rm v. H. LAHTBNDORF.

ABROPLANE. APPLICATION TILED APRJ, 1910.

1,034,257. Patents duly 30, 1912-.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' the raising and .diately connected are'two v ews at )arts arran ementsand combinations hereparticularly pointed ont.-:

the figures: Figure 1 isia' the aeroplane; Fig. 2 1s a sectionalelevation plan view of the'aeroplane, showing the rudstabilizingsurfaces, 1 surfaces being v tieng Flg. 6 s a UNITED STATES PATENT Omen.

women n. LATENDORF, or BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

' AERQPLANE.

To all whom it may concern:

' e it known that I, VICTOR H. LATnNDonr, having declared my intentionof becoming a citizen of the United-States, and resident'of Bayonne,county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have-invented certain new anduseful Improvements .in- Aeroplanes, of which the following is aspecification. This invention relates to airships, and more particularlyto the type of heavier? than-air machines usually called. aeroplanes.,The improvements constituting the inven tion are particularly, thoughby no means exclusively, adaptedto the mono-plane form of aeroplane. i

The object of the invention is to produce an aeroplane presenting wingswhich will closely reproduce the qualities of the wings of soaringbirds, with-a view, to securing the best results in the way ofsustaining power and stability.

To these ends, the invention consists in the matter described andin theclaims. more I he accompanying drawings illustrate what is believed.tube the best form of the invention; but it should be understood thatmany, apparently different, embodiments of the invention may beconstructed without dcpartingfrom the scope thereof.

In these views, wherein similar characters of reference indicate similarparts in all side elevation of I Specificationof Letters Patent.Application filed April 5, 1910. Serial No. 553,523.

taken on. the line 2-2 of'Fig. 1'; Fig. 3 is a der and the stabilizingsurfaces in midposition: F 1g. 4 1s a plan view, showing the ruddermoved to one side and the stabil- 1 between thev frame members lzingsurface at thatsiue projected; Fig. 5 isa detail elevation on anenlarged scale of I the parts for supporting and actuating the one ofthe stabilizing. shown in vertical cross-seclongitudinal sectionalelevation of the parts at the forward part of the" aeroplane; Fig. 7 isa'perspectivefview of lowering planes and immeparts; and Figs. 8 and!)right angles showing one of the frame" members;

In these views, the numeral 10 indicates a" supporting plane, consistingof two wings ll and '12. These wings extend outward and slightlyupwardfrom a longitudinal median line, which median line, in the best form ofthe invention, dips gradually to the rear, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.These w ngs will usually be made of canvas or other flexible materialstretched between frame members, the preferred arrangement of whichwillnow be described. A central longitudinal frame member 13, whichdefines the median line referred to, extends from front to rear of theplane and is slightly arched. In accordance with the invention it isarranged so that from a point in rear of its front end, but materiallynearer said front endthan its rear end, it is dishmvn in Fig. 4. Sideframe. members 15 PatentedJuly30,1912.; i

dlverge rearward from the front end of the;

central frame member13; the front ends of. being suitably these threeframe members united together in any usual or approved manner. Inaccordance with the best em bodiment of the invention, these side framemembers 15 are bowed or curved slightly, in an outward and upwarddirection, that is, their curves lie in inclined planes. The rear endsof the side frame members 15 are con nected with the rear end of thecentral frame member l2b'y rear frame members 16, which convergerearward.-' These members 16 are straight-in the, best form of theinvention. 1 The angle between these rear frame members 16 .ismaterially greater than stretching the canvas or similar material asdescribed, andfparticularly when the aeroplane is in motion, with thecanvas somewhat bellied upward under the air pressure, they closelycorrespond in action tothe wings of soaring birds..- The side membersnected with the central frame member 13 by straight brace-members'17.

A propeller 18 may be mounted on the plane 10' at either end thereof, ormay be supportedor mounted'in anysuitable or apby a motor 19, which I issupported on a platform 20 for the operator.

2. suitable number-of standards 21 and 22. The standard 21 is shown asconstituting a 15 may be con-' Y the angle between the side framemembers-15. When the wings are completed by proved manner. It is shown as beingdriven This plat form maybe supported from the 'planeby I mast,ewhichextends through the plane ,on the median line thereof, being secured toand between the strips 14: of the Means are provided for moving therudder hand-.wheel 28. be widely varied. I provide a stabilizing guideframe, comprising channeled slide- 'ways 30 and depending -supportingstandthe rudder, by means of ropes or is swung to one 1 line thereof.They may ,with the form of 'this mast is located in advance of thelongi- -tudinal center of the plane.

rudder' and extending therefrom'to pulleys thence to .pulleys 27 mountedon the plane the movement tion, arrangement actuation of suchstabilizing plane may be pulleys 44. Suitable guy-ro' pesor the likepreferably of the plane 10 with the mast 21! rope 47 may connect. theouter end'of the rudder with the mast.

In operation, its peculiar and wings,

central frame'member 13. 'In accordance the invention illustrated,

bird-like construction of will be found to have great lifting power forits size, and exceptional stability. When the rudder is swung to oneside or other, tendency of the plane to tip to that side isneutralizedby the transverse shifting of the stabilizer.- The aeroplane I may restupon the ground upon wheels 46, for the purpose of securing a runningstart. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,anddesire ters Patent, is: a

1. Inan aeroplane, a supporting plane consisting of two wings .havmg acentral It serves as the support for a pivoted rudder 23. As shown, thisrudder has its yertical rudder surface disposed over the rear part ofthe plane 10, and is connected pivotally with the mast 21 by longsupporting rods 24:.

from the platform 20; and such means may comprise cords or ropes 25secured to the 26 securedto the side frame members 15,

near the median: line thereof, and thence passing through the planedownward to a--{ Obviously, such means may plane 28, which is movedautomatically with of the rudder.- The construcand articular mode ofside edges, said side ed es extending rearward from the front 0 saidjunction and being disposed at a slightly greater elevation than saidjunction, and rear edges converging from the rear ends of said sideedges to the rear end of said junction, the angle between said rearedges being materi- 'ally greater than the angle between said sideedges. y

'2. In an aeroplane, 'a supporting plane consisting of two wings-havinga central longitudinal junction which is slightly arched and the majorand rear portion of ards 31. In the illustrated .construction, whichextends gradually downward, said these surfaces 28 are connected to movewith wings extending from said junction outward other flexiand slightlyupward to diverging side edges ble connections 32, which are secured toand which extend rearward from the front of extend from the inner endsof the surfaces said junction at a slightly greater elevation 28 overpulle s '33 to :the hand-wheel 28. than said junction, said side edgesbein Thus, it will e seen, when the rudder 23 slightly curved outwardand upward, and side or the other, the stastraight rear edges convergingfrom the rear bilizing surface 28 at that side is projected. ends ofsaid side edges to the rear end of Raising and lowering planes 3& may besaid junction, the angle between said rear located at'either end of theplane, and prefedges being materially greater than the anerably abovethe same. As shown, two such gle between said side edges. planes, spacedtransversely from each other, 3. In an aeroplane, a supporting plane aresupported over the front part of the comprising a central longitudinalframe plane-10, at opposite sides of the median member directedgradually downward and be secured to .oppocurving toward the siteends ofa tilting frame35, journaled on frame members extending l rearward and atransverse axisina bracket 36 secured to the frame member 13. This framemay comrise three parallel rods, a rod 37 which is journaled in the'bracket 36, and top and bottomrods 38, to which may be securedoperating ropes or the like 43, which extend to an operating wheel onthe platform. Theends of the.rods-.37 and 38 maybe con.- nected by bracerods 40, and b ace rods or ropes 41' may connect the ends 0. these rods40 with the front and rear edges of the planes 34-. In passing downwardto the operating wheel 39, the ropes 43 may pass over widely varied. Asshown, it comprises two stabilizing surfaces 28, 28, which are connectedby a rope wire, or other means, 29 to move together. These stabilizingsurfaces may, however, be distinct. These surfaces 28 are shown asmounted to slide transversely beneath the plane 10 in a suitable memberand dis osed at a slightly greater elevation, rear rame membersconnecting the rear ends of'said central-"and side frame members, andmaterial supported by said frame members and constituting wing surfaces.

4. In an aeroplane, a supporting lane comprising a central longitudinalrame member which, from a point in rear of its front end but materiallynearer its front than its rear end, extends gradually downward andcurving to the rear, diverging side the aeroplane, by reason oflongitudinal junctlon and thence extended outward and slightly upward todiverging rear, diverging side 45 are shown connecting the severalangles .A guy'- to secure by Letcurving from the front of said centralframe side frame members, and material stretched between said framemembers and constitutlng Wing surfaces which extend outward and.

slightly, upward from said central frame member.

5.'In an aeroplane, a supporting plane comprisinga central longitudinalframe member which is arched and from its for-- ward portion extendsgradually downward to the rear, diverging side frame members extendingrearward from the front of said central frame member and disposed at aslight y greater elevation, said side frame men) ers, being curvedoutward, rear frame members converging from the rear ends of said sideframe members to the rear end of said central frame member, theanglebetween said rear frame members'being materially greater than theangle between S2L1d' side members, and material stretched be tween saidframe members and constituting- -symmetr1cal, bird-like wing surfaces. I

6. In an aeroplane, a supportingplane comprising a central longitudinalframe member which is arched and is directed gradually downward fromits'forward portion to its rear, diverging side frame members extendingrearward from the front of said central frame member and'disposedl at aslightly greater elevation, said side frame members being curved outwardand upward,

rear frame members converging rearward from the rear ends of said sideframe mom'- bers to the rear end of said central frame member,.the anglebetween said rear frame members being materially greater than the anglebetween said side members, and ma terial stretched between said framemembers and presenting symmetrical, bird-like wing surfaces.

7. In an aeroplane, a supporting plane comprising a. centrallongitudinal frame member which is arched and is directed graduallydownward from its forwardpor tion to its rear, diverging side framemembers extending rearward from'a point at g the front of said centralframe member and porting rods connecting disposed at a slightly greaterelevation, said side frame members being curved outward,

straight rear frame members converging rearward from the rear ends ofsaid side frame members to the rear end of said central frame member,and material stretched bers extending rearward from a point 'at thefront of said central frame member and disposed at a slightly greaterelevation, said side-frame members being curved outward, straight rear'frame members converging rearward from the rear ends of said side framemembers to the rear end of said central frame member, material stretched.be twee" said frame members and presenting two bird-like wing surfaces,and straight brace members connecting the side frame members with thecentral frame member intermediate their ends. t

9..- In an aeroplane, the combination of a supporting plane consistingof two symmetrical wings slightly upward with reference to alongitudinal median line, a vertical mast extended upward from theforward part of said plane on said median line, and a verticalrudderpivoted to said mast and extended therefrom over the rear portion of theplane. 10. In an aeroplane, the combinationof a extended outward andmetrical tudinal median line which has a slight dip to the rear, a.vertical mast extended upward from the forward part of said plane onsaid median line, and a vertical rudder surface located over the rear ofsaid plane, and supsaid rudder surface pivotally to said mast.

Signed inthe city, county and State of New York, this 26th day of March,1910. VICTOR 'H. LATENDORF. Witnesses:

' G. ENAH Memo,

LEwrsJ. Doon mn.

wings, extended outward and slightly upward with reference to a longi-

